The inaugural event, produced by writer, filmmaker and activist Agunda Okeyo, will bring together supporters of women’s rights and equality, including Gloria Steinem, plus some comic relief. As a New Yorker of Kenyan descent lauded for her ongoing Broadway showcase “Sisters of Comedy”, Okeyo produces with a unique appreciation for humor, solidarity and social change. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception starting at 6:00PM, followed by the show at 7:30PM. Tickets for “A Night of Comedy with Jane Fonda” are available through the ERA Coalition website at http://www.eracoalition.org/comedy.

“Growing up in the business I have always felt it is important to use my voice and stand with my colleagues and friends to support women’s rights and equality. We hope to use the magic of comedy to help raise awareness of pay inequity, pregnancy discrimination, and violence against women, and to help promote constitutional equality for women,” said Jane Fonda, Event MC & member of the ERA Coalition Advisory Council.

“80% of Americans think women already have equal rights under the law – 95% of all Americans think we should, but the fact is that we don’t. The Equal Rights Amendment would put women in the Constitution once and for all,” said Jessica Neuwirth, President & Director of the Fund for Women’s Equality and its sister organization the ERA Coalition. “We are grateful to Jane Fonda and all of the performing comedians for giving their time and talent to our cause, and we very much welcome laughter that will help us move the campaign forward.”

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to the state legislatures for ratification. By the time the deadline for state ratification ended in 1982, 35 states had ratified the amendment, just three short of the number needed for the amendment to be adopted. Both formed in 2014, the Fund for Women’s Equality is engaged in raising public awareness on the unequal treatment of women in the U.S. and its sister organization the ERA Coalition is working to guarantee equal rights for woman under the U.S, Constitution by campaigning for the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA Coalition includes more than fifty organizational members, and among its supporters are former President Jimmy Carter, Meryl Streep, Rashida Jones, Chelsea Handler, Sally Field, Robin Wright, Sam Waterston, Christine Lahti and Gloria Steinem, who serves on the board of both organizations.